THE BOOK OF THE TARPON 



over to the beach there and pick up five or six 

 needle fish. Tarpon like them better than any 

 other bait." 



"I won't need a dozen cartridges for that. 

 Them needle fish come right up the beach and 

 I can stun two or three of 'em at a shot." 



"I'll be satisfied if you bring back one needle 

 fish for every two cartridges you take with you." 



The captain walked the beach and stalked 

 needle fish for nearly an hour, returning with 

 five after exhausting his cartridges. Tarpon are 

 best taken in Captiva Pass on the outgoing 

 tide, but the fly in the fisherman's ointment is 

 the quantity of seaweed that goes with it. 



It was the Girl's day with the rod, and a tar- 

 pon was waiting for her at the first space in the 

 pass that we found clear enough of weeds for 

 trolling. Back and forth in the pass we were 

 towed by the most beautiful fish in the world. 

 It was the Girl's first tarpon and, considering the 

 amount of contradictory advice she struggled 

 against, the fish was well played. Whenever 

 she found breath to talk she asked: 



"Do you think I'll get him? How big is he?" 

 assured her that if she kept cool she 

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